I've been working on fence-monitoring projects lately, and the FP1150 from Senstar is one that I've seen a few times.

Today, I'll walk you through how this sensor can be integrated with DPS Telecom's NetGuardian RTUs, based on my recent experience.

As a heads-up: the sensor manufacturer doesn't specifically approve or endorse pairing the FP1150 with a NetGuardian (not that this is generally expected or necessary). This is a scenario to show you what's possible with an industry-standard output like contact closures.

The beauty of standardized I/O is that you can combine devices from many manufacturers to build your own customized remote monitoring system.

Do Not Ignore Your Fence Security

Whether you're managing sites for telecom, utilities, transportation, or something else, fence-line security is a major priority. A breached perimeter can lead to theft, vandalism, or other issues that interrupt normal operations.

Build a Single, Cohesive Monitoring System

Most off-the-shelf sensors can detect and report a disturbance, but they don't automatically integrate with your other site sensors. That means you might get a temperature alarm and a fence alarm at once, yet miss one or the other (or both!) if they don't end up displaying in the same interface.

Fragmented systems often mean slower response and more guesswork.

Envision Your Unified Monitoring Setup

Imagine seeing every relevant site event - fence intrusion, temperature spike, power failure, etc. - all in one place. That's the beauty of a well-integrated monitoring solution:

1. A fence breach sets off an alert that shows you the exact fence zone with the disturbance.
2. You can cross-reference that perimeter alert with other site data to see if additional trouble is brewing.
3. You respond confidently, knowing you've got a complete picture in real time.

With the right fence sensor (like, in this example, the FP1150) feeding information into a NetGuardian RTU, this "dream scenario" can become reality.

Meet the FP1150: A Versatile Fence Sensor

The FP1150 from Senstar is a fiber-optic sensor built for fence-line intrusion detection. Designed with an industry-standard output that can feed into various systems, it's a good illustration of how modern sensors can integrate with robust RTUs.

Key FP1150 Features

• Pinpoint Detection: Locates intrusions within +/- 4 meters over distances up to 10 km.
• Immunity to Weather & EMI: Fiber optics are less susceptible to electrical interference and harsh weather.
• Flexible Outputs: Multiple alarm zones and contact-closure outputs give you plenty of options for connecting to external monitoring gear.

On its own, the FP1150 is a great fence sensor, but pairing it with a NetGuardian RTU helps you harness its data in a broader site-wide monitoring system.

How FP1150 and NetGuardian Can Work Together

Step 1: Bringing Alarms into Your NetGuardian

• Contact Closures: Whenever the FP1150 detects a disturbance, it sends a contact closure output. A NetGuardian RTU (like the 216, 420, 864A, etc.) registers that closure and transmits the alert to your central alarm master or directly to you via SNMP/email notifications.
• Scalable Inputs: NetGuardian models vary in capacity, from 16 discrete inputs (NetGuardian 216) up to 64 (NetGuardian 864A). That's enough to handle multiple fence zones and (in all likelihood) many other types of site sensors.

Step 2: Digging Deeper with T/Mon

• Real-Time Insight: The FP1150's summary alarm is your quick signal that something's wrong.
• Web Interface: If you're using T/Mon, you can click a shortcut icon to pull up the FP1150's more detailed interface. That gives you detailed diagnostics and a map of the precise zone that's been tripped.
• Streamlined Response: Armed with this info, you respond faster and more effectively to potential intrusions.

Step 3: Going Beyond the Fence

NetGuardian RTUs can do much more than just pick up fence alarms:

• Environmental Sensors: Keep tabs on temperature, humidity, voltage, current, and airflow.
• Access Control: Manage building entry with DPS's Building Access System (BAS).
• Power Monitoring: Track and control critical power systems using a NetGuardian (see "Environmental Sensors" above) and/or a DPS Remote Power Switch (like the AB6 G6).

By consolidating all these alarms into one interface, you get a top-to-bottom view of your entire site.

Step 4: Enhanced Alarm Prioritization and Escalation

One of the biggest perks of linking the FP1150 with NetGuardian RTUs is being able to prioritize and escalate alarms by severity. That way, you'll know immediately when there's a confirmed fence breach, while lower-priority alerts are not as prominent - but do get logged for later follow-up.

• Custom Alarm Routing: Using T/Mon or SNMP-based alerts, you can automatically send perimeter breach alarms to security personnel while environmental warnings go to maintenance. This keeps everyone focused on the right issues at the right time. No one has to suffer through the clutter of alarms that they cannot personally solve.
• Threshold Customization: FP1150's adjustable detection sensitivity helps cut down on false alarms. Paired with NetGuardian's alarm filtering features, you get pinpoint control over which incidents trigger escalations.
• Real-Time Updates: Alarms can go out via email, SMS, or your web interface. No matter where your team is, they'll get the alert right away.

By prioritizing the most critical alarms first, you minimize downtime, reduce wasted effort, and ensure that truly urgent issues get the immediate attention they deserve.

Step 5: Integration with Existing Infrastructure

A huge advantage of this combined solution is how easily it plugs into whatever you already have running - whether it's an older legacy system or a new SNMP-based setup.

• Legacy Support: T/Mon's multiprotocol design can gather alarms from older gear and combine them with data from the FP1150 and NetGuardian. No more juggling multiple monitoring tools.
• Protocol Mediation: T/Mon translates ASCII, SNMP, and proprietary protocols into one cohesive view, so operators can manage everything from a single interface.
• Scalable Expansion: If you need to add more sensors or new sites down the road, modular approaches (like NetGuardian DX expansion shelves) make it easy to grow without tossing out your existing infrastructure.

Step 6: ROI and Operational Efficiency

Yes, better security is the top priority. But don't forget that rolling the FP1150 and NetGuardian into one monitoring ecosystem also brings real financial and efficiency gains.

• Fewer False Alarms: The FP1150's refined algorithms greatly reduce nuisance alerts, cutting back on wasted site visits and unproductive troubleshooting.
• Minimized Downtime: Swift responses and easy-to-access diagnostics help nip issues in the bud before they escalate.
• Lower Maintenance Costs: When you consolidate fence monitoring, environmental sensors, and more into one platform, you cut down on extra systems. That's less to manage, train for, and maintain.
• Future-Proof Design: Because DPS solutions are scalable and support multiple protocols, your monitoring remains current. That's true even as your network grows or changes over time.

These benefits make an FP1150-NetGuardian integration a smart long-term investment if you want both top-notch security and good general remote site management ROI.

Why use NetGuardians in this Monitoring Scenario?

Standards give you a choice of many possible RTU manufacturers. Here are a few reasons that DPS clients (without ever being forced) continue to choose NetGuardian RTUs:

• Reliable Equipment: NetGuardian RTUs are known for robust performance and long MTBF (mean time between failures).
• All-in-One Management: T/Mon gives you a "single pane of glass" so you don't have to juggle multiple consoles.
• Customizable Solutions: DPS can adapt hardware or software to fit your unique requirements.
• Decades of Experience: With 30+ years in remote monitoring, DPS has seen and solved just about every challenge you can think of - and the ones you haven't encountered yet.

Ready to Protect Your Sites?

The FP1150 is a great example of a modern fence sensor that can integrate with NetGuardian RTUs for centralized monitoring. Even though this integration is not specifically endorsed by the sensor manufacturer, this scenario illustrates how using standard outputs allows different systems to work together to safeguard your perimeter and your entire site.

If you're want to unify your alarms - or just want a fence sensor that actually gives you actionable data - call DPS Telecom at 800-622-3314 or visit www.dpstele.com to see what's possible.

We commonly test integrations and resell third-party sensors if you want a "one-stop shop". If you prefer, we have zero issue with you choosing to source your own sensors. You'll still get DPS support when it comes to setting up a sensor within your NetGuardian RTU.

If you'd like to learn more or discuss your own scenario (no matter how different from this one), call DPS anytime. I'm here to help you design and deploy the perfect monitoring system.